To All My Readers: I apologize profusely for how long it has taken me to update. My PC crashed and I had to buy a new computer and it took forever to get everything back to the way it was. So I apologize and thank you for your continued support
Chapter 37
"Home sweet home," Oliver said as they got out of the carriages that brought them to the school. Meredith grinned and picked up Bianca's cage. They made their way inside and headed to the Great Hall for the feast. Meredith spotted Percy sitting with the twins and made her way over to him. She hadn't seen him after they got their orders from the Head Boy and Girl. She wasn't certain but she could guess that he'd spent the journey cozied up somewhere with Penelope.
"This isn't funny you two," Percy was scolding the twins who were laughing. " Ron and Harry will probably be expelled not to mention what the ministry will do to Dad when the find out about that stupid car."
"What are you going on about Percy?" Meredith asked sitting next to him. Percy sighed and rubbed his temples.
"Oh my genius younger brother missed the train so he and Harry decided to fly Dad's car, the one I told you about , to Hogwarts. " Meredith giggled a little. She couldn't help it. Even though she knew Mr. Weasley would get into trouble for tinkering with the car, but really it was a little funny. No more was said on the subject as the doors to the Great Hall opened and McGonagall led the new first years into the hall to be sorted. A boy named Colin Creevey was the first to be sorted into Gryffindor. The boy was tiny and was looking around at everything like he was at the circus.
"Muggleborn," Patricia whispered. Meredith nodded. Ginny was the last to be sorted. The hat had barely touched her head when it shouted Gryffindor. Her brothers minus Ron cheered and patted her on the shoulder.
"Let the feast commence!" Dumbledore shouted. Plates of chicken, steak, kidney pie, potatoes, stuffing, and bread appeared before them and everyone dug in.
"Snape's missing," Patricia noted. Meredith glanced up at the high table and sure enough Snape's chair was empty.
"Maybe he resigned," Oliver said. Meredith chuckled.
"Don't get my hopes up," she said.
By the next morning everyone had heard about Ron and Harry flying the Ford Anglia and crashing it into the Whomping Willow. Like everyone else she had laughed at Ron when Mrs. Weasley's Howler had arrived. Percy considered Ron to be punished enough and let the matter drop, much to Meredith's relief. She had other things to worry about. Before they could get their schedules McGonagall had to let them know which classes they'd be allowed to take. Meredith wasn't worried. She knew her marks would allow her to continue with all her courses.
"Yes, Miss Lupin," McGonagall said looking at her parchment. "Herbology, Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Potions, Transfiguration all fine. I was pleased with your Transfiguration grade. I see that you have decided to drop Ancient Runes and Arithmancy but wish to carry on with Care of Magical Creatures."
"Yes ma'am," she said. McGonagall nodded.
"Very well," McGonagall said. "Your schedule." Meredith took the parchment from her head of house and stood back to wait for her friends. Percy and Oliver were cleared for all their courses. Patricia was harder. After a few minutes McGonagall cleared her to take Charms, Herbology, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Care of Magical Creatures, and Potions.
"Looks like I'll have a period to myself," Patricia said glumly.
"It'll give you time to study," Percy said helpfully. Patricia glared at him.
Their first lesson on the day was Charms. There were three other Gryffindors, six Hufflepuffs, four Ravenclaws and two SLytherins. Meredith was relieved to see that Flint was not among them.
"What's this," Percy said as they took their seats. In front of them were feathers. Just like there had been on their first day.
"Did we get the schedule wrong?" Percy asked Meredith. "It looks like Flitwick set this up for the first years." Meredith shrugged.
"Settle down, settle down," Flitwick squeaked as he came into the room. "Now, welcome to NEWT level Charms. I am very pleased to see so many of you in this class. Now our first lesson will be on non-verbal spells. Who can tell me what the advantage of a non verbal spell is?" Percy's hand shot into the air.
"Mr. Weasley," Flitwick said.
"Nonverbal spells save time, as several can be done at once. Also, in the case of a defensive spell your opponent will not know what spell you are using so will have less time to counter."
"Exactly," Flitwick said. "Now, non-verbal spells take intense concentration and mental focus. It is for this reason that we will be starting with a spell I know you have all mastered. You all know wingardium leviosa. Please take out your wands. Now without using the words, concentrate on casting the levitation charm." Meredith took her wand and made the 'swish and flick' motion.
'Wingardium Leviosa' she thought as hard as she could. All around her others had their faces pinched in concentration, swishing and flicking. Oliver's eyes were crossed, Patricia was sweating, and Percy's face was red. Meredith closed her eyes and tried to remember how it had felt the first time she had done this spell. The motion of the wand, the energy that pushed through her fingers as she whispered the spell.
'Wingardium Leviosa' she said silently in her head.
"Wonderful!" Flitwick squeaked causing Meredith's eyes to open. To her astonishment the feather in front of her was floating.
"Well done Miss Lupin, well done," Flitwick said.
"How did you do that?" Percy whispered to her.
"I don't know," Meredith said.
By the end of Charms Meredith was still the only one who had managed to cast a non-verbal spell. Percy was not happy about this at all, and was refusing to speak to Meredith. Meredith did not have time to worry about it though for they had Potions next. To her immense relief it looked like Flint had not gotten the marks to continue. There were only three other students in the class, two Ravenclaws and one Hufflepuff boy.
"Quiet!" Snape hissed as he swept into the room.
"This is NEWT level Potions. In this class you will learn the potions that will appear on your Nearly Exhausting Wizarding Test. For many of you given your past performance in this class I am shocked to see so many of you in this class." At this his gaze fell on Patricia whose face turned scarlet.
"And I will be even more shocked if half of you achieve a NEWT in this class." He turned and waved his wand at the blackboard.
"You will be brewing Draught of Living Death," Snape said. "Start now." Meredith's eyes widened. This was the most complex potion they'd ever done in this class. She quickly flipped through her copy of Advanced Potion Making and found the potion. The classroom was silent with concentration as students chopped up their ingredients and added them to their cauldrons. Meredith glanced up at her friends. Percy seemed to be the furthest along. His potion was smooth and black as the book said it should be. Patricia's potion was looking like a black glob of tar.
"Stupid bean!" Oliver cursed under his breath as he failed to cut his sopophorous bean for the third time. Meredith too was having difficulties. The tiny little black bean kept slipping. Finally in frustration, she took the flat of her knife and crushed the bean. To her immense shock a huge amount of juice squirted out of the bean. She quickly scooped up the juice and dumped it into her cauldron. She let out a little laugh as her potion turned lavender.
"How did you do that?" Patricia said shoving a piece of her blonde hair out of her eyes.
"Use the flat of the knife to crush the bean," she whispered after a quick glance over her shoulder to make certain that Snape could not hear her.
"No," Percy said. "The instructions clearly say to cut the bean not crush it." Meredith glanced at his potion. It was still a very deep purple.
"Trust me," she implored her friends.
"Oh heck," Oliver said. "I'll take her word over the stupid book." Oliver took his knife and crushed his bean. After he added the juice his potion turned lavender like Meredith's. Patricia was watching with wide eyes. She pursed her lips together and gripped her knife.
"Patricia," Percy whispered his voice scolding. "Don't."
"I can't afford to fail this class Percy," Patricia hissed frantically. And with that she brought the flat of her knife down on her bean and dumped the juice into her cauldron. The smile on Patricia's face when her potion turned light purple was worth whatever trouble they might get into if Snape found out they hadn't been following the instructions.
"See," Meredith said. Percy glared at her.
"Miss Lupin," Snape hissed swooping down on her. "I trust you are not attempting to do Patterson's work for her."
"No sir," Meredith said through clenched teeth. Snape stared at her as though trying to pull the thoughts from her head. He then proceeded to examine the contents of all four of their cauldrons. He glared at Meredith suspiciously and seized her knife. For a short moment Meredith feared Snape was going to stab her in the heart with it. Instead he examined the blade.
"Show me your book Miss Lupin," Snape ordered. Meredith raised her eyebrows. What was Snape on about?
"Your book Miss Lupin," Snape hissed his voice dripping with venom. Meredith picked up her textbook and handed it to Snape who ripped it from her hand. Meredith exchanged a bewildered look with her friends. When Snape had finished with her book he examined Patricia's and Oliver's as well.
"Very well," he said once he was satisfied. "Carry on."
"What was that?" Percy said.
"I have no idea," Meredith said.